Cap. 9 Art. 688Prescription barring criminal actions.

Save as otherwise provided by law, criminal action is barred-

(a) by the lapse of twenty years in respect of crimes liable to the punishment of imprisonment for a term of not less than twenty years;

(b) by the lapse of fifteen years in respect of crimes liable to imprisonment for a term of less than twenty but not less than nine years;

(c) by the lapse of ten years in respect of crimes liable to imprisonment for a term of less than nine but not less than four years;

(d) by the lapse of five years in respect of crimes liable to imprisonment for a term of less than four years but not less than one year;

(e) by the lapse of two years in respect of crimes liable to imprisonment for a term of less than one year, or to a fine (multa) or to the punishments established for contraventions;

(f) by the lapse of three months in respect of contraventions, or of verbal insults liable to the punishments established for contraventions.